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Importing Accel EDA and P-CAD Files

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Accel EDA files in the following formats can be opened in Pulsonix:

  • Accel EDA and P-CAD 2000,2001,2002, 2004 and 2006 releases. PCB and Schematic designs and PCB footprint, Schematic Symbols and Part libraries in Accel ASCII format versions 2 through to 7.
  • P-CAD PCB and Schematic designs in PDIF format upto Version 8.5.
  • Note that other versions may be supported, please check with our technical support centre if after you have tried them and they do not import.
  • Note: PCB Doc Symbols are contained within P-CAD Footprint libraries. These symbols can be imported to Pulsonix Doc Symbol libraries.

Exporting Libraries From Accel EDA

Accel libraries hold complete schematic symbol, footprint and part data. So this procedure exports all the required data for a particular library.

  1. Run the Accel Library Manager.
  2. From the Library menu option select Translate
  3. In the Source Format select ACCEL Binary
  4. In the Destination Format select ACCEL ASCII
  5. Use Source Library to browse for the source ACCEL library to export.
  6. Use Destination Library to save the file to where you want to.
  7. Select Translate to write out the ascii library file.
  8. The file output in Ascii format can then be imported into a Pulsonix library using either the Data Transfer Wizard or Library Manager

Exporting PCB and Schematic Designs From Accel EDA and P-CAD

To export PCB designs from Accel PCB, use the Save As option from the File menu. Choose the Accel ASCII format, ASCII Files (*.pcb) from the List Files of Type selection box.

This ASCII format file is ready to be directly loaded into Pulsonix PCB as a design.

Follow the same procedure for Schematic designs. The file filter is ASCII Files (*.sch)

Exporting Schematic Netlists From Accel EDA

To save a Schematic design in an ASCII netlist format, select the Generate Netlist option from the Utils menu.

In order for the correct netlist to be generated, the Netlist Format must be set to Accel ASCII and the Include Library Information button must be checked.

For the netlist to transfer into Pulsonix, the Schematic symbols must contain a reference to the Pulsonix PCB Footprint or Part library entry. This means the symbol in Accel must have a reference to the relevant Part Type, Pattern Name and /or Value. In the event that the Part Type is not found, the Pattern Name or Value will be used by Pulsonix.

Back Annotating to Accel EDA Schematics

  1. Use the Back Annotate option from the File menu.
  2. Save the Pulsonix back annotation file in Accel format using the file extension .eco. This will be suitable to be read into Accel Schematics.
  3. From the dialog select the back annotation filename and press OK, all changes made will be saved to the Schematic design.

Importing Accel Designs into Pulsonix

Below is a brief summary of the import mechanism, the principle is the same for both Schematic and PCB designs:

  1. From the File menu in Pulsonix, select Open.
  2. Select the saved ASCII file and press the Open button.
  3. Pulsonix will present you with an Import file from which to make various selections, it will then import.

Use Layer Mapping

If you have selected a Technology file, you can also select Use Layer Mapping which will allow you to map the Accel layers to the Pulsonix layers specified in the Technology. When checked, the Layer Mapping dialog will be activated before the import starts. If this check box is not selected, then the Accel layers and names will be used. These can be edited in the Layers dialog in the Technology once imported.

Importing Accel Libraries into Pulsonix

Below is a brief summary of the import mechanism for library items:

For importing libraries, you can either use the library files if they have been exported or you can use a design to create a library of just the design based library items. The principle is the same in both instances.

  1. For importing libraries, you can either use the Library Manager and Import mechanism on each page for each library type
  2. Alternatively, you can use the Data Transfer Wizard.

Open | Library Manager | Data Transfer Wizard | Back Annotate

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